Meditation seems to be a hot topic these days. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m seeing it and hearing about it everywhere! Just do a quick Google or YouTube search and you’ll discover an unending feed all about the ancient practice.

And I couldn’t be happier! Meditation isn’t meant to be a secret, or available only to the few. Meditation truly is a part of who we are.

MEDITATION AS A STATE OF BEING

We naturally enter the state of meditation any time we draw our focus and awareness into the same place at the same time. Think running, doing the dishes, those quiet moments right before we step into a nervous situation, a laughing fit with your closest friend, a 2 hour coffee date that feels like only a moment.

We are born with the innate ability to meditate. As children we are naturally in the present moment. It’s not until we enter our teen years that we start to contemplate the past and the future.

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” ~ Lao Tzu

MEDITATION AS A PRACTICE

So, when someone says they can’t meditate, I know it’s simply not true. What may be true is that they choose not to PRACTICE meditation. And the practice of Meditation is totally different than the state of Meditation.

The practice of Meditation is about creating a habit. It’s the process of setting aside time and actively CHOOSING to engage the present moment.

And I get it! It’s tough to set aside time for something we’re unfamiliar with when we feel overwhelmed or stressed. Time feels like a precious commodity in these moments and the last thing we want to do is sit there and ruminate on all of our problems when we could be doing something about them.

MEDITATION IS DOING SOMETHING

Ahhh, but here’s the truth. Meditation IS doing something. It just isn’t something that we’re used to. Meditation as a practice offers us direct access to our subconscious and to the creative parts of us, which then express through us.

Through Meditation we develop clarity, relieve stress, and we discover the futility of running around like chickens with our heads chopped off. Or, more realistically, with our heads full of chatter and incessant noise. Which may be a worse state of being than actually losing our heads.

When we engage in a Meditation practice we TRAIN our mind to release its grip on the past and the present, and we effectively calm our nervous system, which translates to increased physical and mental wellness.

The practice of Meditation is all about creating a habit. The more we practice, the more naturally we engage with it. Meditation becomes easier as we make our peace with the necessity of pausing for a few minutes a day and offers profound tools for response to external and internal stress, as well as developing the self-awareness needed for purpose, growth and personal evolution.

GET STARTED ON YOUR MEDITATION PRACTICE!

Interested in finding out more about how to start your Meditation Practice or even deepen your learning with one of our upcoming Meditation Teacher Training courses?